Cambodia Prosecutes 268 Cyber Fraud Cases, Involving Nearly 3,000 Suspects in One Year

In a nationwide crackdown on cyber fraud, Cambodian authorities have sent a total of 268 cases related to online scams to court over the past year, from July 2025 to June 2026. Nearly 3,000 suspects are implicated in these cases. This was reported by HE Santibandith Chy Sina Rith, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister in Charge of Special Missions and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Cyber Fraud (ICCC), during a plenary cabinet meeting on July 24, 2026, presided over by Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, at the Peace Palace. According to HE Santibandith Chy Sina Rith's report, the 268 cases sent to court involve a total of 2,773 suspects. Among them, 2,200 individuals (including 353 women) are currently detained awaiting legal proceedings. Of these, 313 are Cambodian nationals. Authorities have investigated, identified, and cracked down on 665 locations used for cyber fraud activities, including 582 operational sites and 83 hideouts for criminals to evade capture. Furthermore, 537 locations have been shut down to prevent further illegal activities. During this year-long operation, authorities also investigated 195 licensed casinos. As a result, 19 casino licenses were revoked, and 30 were suspended due to involvement in cyber fraud activities. Additionally, 23 casinos had their licenses expire without business operations. In parallel, Cambodian authorities deported 21,102 foreign nationals from 38 different nationalities, predominantly Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and Bangladeshi, who were involved in illegal activities. In its fight against technology-based fraud, Cambodia has collaborated with friendly nations such as the People's Republic of China, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, ASEAN member states, and other countries. International organizations, including the Mekong-Lancang Inter-Police Cooperation and Integration Center (IMLECC), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), have also partnered in these efforts. To prevent future occurrences of technology-based fraud, Cambodia enacted and implemented the "Law on Combating Cyber Fraud" effective April 7, 2026. Under this new law, offenders face severe penalties, including imprisonment up to life and fines of up to one billion Riel, along with asset confiscation. During the cabinet meeting on July 24, 2026, Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that the campaign to dismantle cyber fraud networks in Cambodia has achieved a significant success. He urged relevant authorities to continue their unwavering fight against cyber fraud. Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei described the eradication of these cyber fraud networks as a crucial step in "cleaning the house," vital for Cambodia's self-strengthening and the reinforcement of other sectors, particularly the economy. Source: AKP Khmer